She bit down on her lower lip. “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before. Am I supposed to ask for a certain number of orgasms or something?”
He stared at her then threw his head back and laughed.
“God, Anna, you’re going to be the death of me.”
Before she could process that statement, he moved forward, his steps slow but sure.Panther-like, she thought again, as sunlight flowed over his muscles. Her eyes swung to where the towel clung to his hips. She’d seen superhero movies where the men had Vs carved into their stomachs that went down toward their thighs, a not so subtle trail to what lay between their legs. She never thought anyone actually looked like that.
But Antonio did, and he was coming straight for her like he was going to taste every inch of her body and make her go up in flames.
What have I done?
Then he was there, a breath away, the heat from his body seeping into hers. Her nipples hardened beneath the weight of his gaze. She kept her hands fixed at her sides. She would not touch herself, would not try to assuage the ache building so deep inside it almost hurt.
She expected to see the same raging lust in his eyes that she’d seen yesterday. But when their gazes collided, she saw desire mixed with a tenderness that tugged at the loose threads of the past.
“Are you sure?”
A pause. Then she nodded.
He slid his arms around her waist. This time when she gasped, she didn’t bother to hide her reaction. She embraced the arch of her body into his and savored the feel of her breasts pressing up against his chest. He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers, a whisper that made her whimper. She wanted the fire and passion of yesterday, the burning desire to touch each other everywhere.
But Antonio had other ideas. Every time she tried to deepen the kiss, tease him by stroking her fingers over his chest, nip his bottom lip, he simply smiled against her mouth and continued to kiss her as if she was the most precious treasure in the world.
Finally, she relaxed and let him explore, her body melting against his. His fingers skimmed up and down her back, leaving trails of tingling heat in their wake. She slowly eased her hands up the back of his neck and into his hair. Who knew touching someone’s hair could be so erotic? When she tangled her fingers in the silky thickness, his kiss firmed, his tongue darting out and tracing the seam of her lips with masterful precision.
His hands moved with aching slowness over her waist, skimmed up her sides. A moan escaped her as he cupped her breasts. Her head lolled back. He left her mouth, pressed his lips to her cheek, then her jaw, then down her neck. He kissed her pulse beating frantically in her throat, his fingers working under the band of her bralette. Then he was pulling the lace up, over, and suddenly she was standing in front of him in nothing but her lace thong.
Her confidence wavered. She’d never been this close to being naked in front of a man before. It made her feel vulnerable.
Antonio must have sensed her hesitation because he paused, her bralette in one hand, the other fisted by his side.
“All you have to do is say ‘stop,’” he whispered, “and I’ll stop.”
His reassurance soothed some of her uncertainty. It had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her own insecurities.
“I know.” She reached up and laid her hand against his stubbled jaw. His gaze darkened and he turned, pressing a kiss to the middle of her palm that made her eyes drift shut. She’d never imagined the various parts of her body that could experience sensual pleasure. Each reveal elicited more joy, the physical delights mixing with her sense of adventure. If she’d known it could be like this, perhaps she would have sought out a partner sooner.
Although that wasn’t true, she acknowledged as Antonio’s hands returned to her bare breasts, cupping the globes in his hands. No one had ignited this need inside her. After Antonio’s rejection, she hadn’t trusted anyone else with her body. Ironic that the man who had broken her heart was also now touching her in ways she had only imagined.
He leaned down and captured a nipple in his mouth. She cried out, her hands returning to his hair as she pressed her breast more fully against him. His arms encircled her waist as he let out a primal growl that thrilled her to her toes. Each suck sent lightning arcing through her body. The hair on his jaw scraped across her breasts before his mouth latched onto her other nipple.
Before she could further explore his body, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. He lowered her down as he had on the beach. Yet this time his lips fused to hers in another passionate kiss that made her toes curl and one hand grip the silky comforter while the other grabbed onto his shoulder. His muscles rippled beneath her touch, a steadiness she desperately needed as her emotions rose and fell like the waves on the beach. Excitement, elation, desire, need...beneath it all, running so deep she almost missed it in the headiness of being wanted, the longing for the man she’d once loved slowly creeping out of its hiding place.
No.
That feeling had no place here. She and Antonio had made a pact as mature adults. Just a little over a week of pure pleasure and then they would part ways.
Although, she acknowledged as he reached down and tugged at the towel, a week didn’t seem like nearly long enough.
The towel fell to the floor. Antonio stood there in all his naked glory. Her breath caught in her chest. She’d gotten glimpses of his arms, his chest, his abdomen over the past week. His legs were thick, similarly muscled and dusted with dark hair. Between his legs, his erection jutted out.
“There’s a question on your face.” He spoke the words softly, as if he was afraid he might spook her.
“You just...um...” She bit her lower lip. “You look really big.”
His chuckle hummed through her.“Gracías, mariposa.”
Something flickered across his face when he said her nickname. Before she could decipher it, he climbed on the bed, caging her between his arms, and leaned down to kiss her once more. She arched up, trying to press her nearly naked body against him, but only found cool air. Every time she lifted her hips, he stayed just out of reach, smiling against her lips.